Wicuhkemine: Revive the Bay of Fundy Water Back in the Quoddy Region, Peskotomuhkati lessons from 14,000 years of honouring Samaqan

Abstract

Samaqan, Water – we are all connected.

The Peskotomuhkati Peoples have lived in a reciprocal relationship with the Lands, Waters, and Wildlife of the Skutik River watershed, the Quoddy Region, and Monahnuk (Grand Manan Archipelago)–southwestern Bay of Fundy – since time immemorial. Wildlife populations, including Peskotom (pollock) the Peskotomuhkati’s namesake, have struggled for the past two centuries. The Canada-U.S. border divides the Skutik River and Peskotomuhkati territory, a meaningless border to Wildlife, but one that complicates protection and restoration of culture and habitat. The Quoddy Region is rich in nutrient upwellings, supporting a range of biodiversity, yet has no formal marine protection west of Musquash Marine Protected Area (MPA), in either country. With rising calls for action, yet no formal marine protection plan, there is an incredible opportunity to advance Indigenous-led marine conservation through a Water Back framework, return of Water rights and responsibility to Indigenous Nations (Leonard et al., 2023). Understanding that MPAs are not a silver bullet, this project explores appetite for Peskotomuhkati-led marine Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) and defines elements required for collaborative ocean governance. A legislative review of conservation tools and IPCAs, interviews, and talking circles with Peskotomuhkati and non-Indigenous practitioners outlined conservation values, restoration needs, policy and management changes required to repair the health of the Bay and all relatives. Peskotomuhkati community members interviewed from Sipayik wish to see the entire Quoddy Region protected and revitalized – through Peskotomuhkati leadership. Concerns includeland and ocean-based cumulative impacts, inadequate monitoring, rockweed harvesting, overfishing, gear types, a need for temporal closures, and finfish aquaculture practices. Revival of the Quoddy Region will require interdisciplinary, interjurisdictional efforts grounded in Indigenous leadership through Water Back principles. Wicuhkemine – help us. Holistic thinking, honouring Treaty integrity by addressing power imbalances, and a values shift are necessary for true effectiveness in reviving the Quoddy Region, to welcome Peskotum home.